SNOW is set to strike western Europe this week as a series of weather systems hurtle towards the continent and unleash heavy rain and devastating winter conditions.

BBC Weather forecaster Susan Powell warned there will be a “very lively picture” across Europe this week as snow and heavy rain strikes much of the continent. The BBC Weather forecaster said: “It’s a very lively picture at the moment across western Europe with countless areas of low pressure still queuing up in the Atlantic to come plowing in. We are going to see this one rolling its way across the UK and up towards Scandinavia on Wednesday so strong winds and some more heavy rain also affecting the north of France and the Low Countries.

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Further east the tailed of another weather system will bring some showers to northern Turkey

BBC Weather

“And then further south some heavy rain pushing into Portugal and Spain. Further east the tailed of another weather system will bring some showers to northern Turkey.

“Further south it is looking clearer. Some sunshine for the Balkans and some warmth.

“But much cooler across Iberia as this frontal system arrives. Some snow across the Spanish Plateau, some for the Pyrenees too.

“Still some warmth further north for the likes of Frankfurt but definitely cooler once the rain arrives into the UK and the north of France and southern Scandinavia.

BBC Weather: Europe set for snow and rain this week (Image: WXCHARTS)

“That low centre continues to plow its way north on Thursday, bringing some snow into Scandinavia but the trailing front looks like it will bring further snow into the Alps and then there is another weather system waiting to bring further rain into western Spain and to Portugal.”

Britain is set to be hit by the worst of the weather system, with the Met Office’s Alex Deakin forecasting heavy rain and scattered showers.

The Met Office meteorologist said: “Tuesday promises a bit of a chilly start, there will be some sunshine for many but there will also be some wet weather around too.

“Where we have got clear skies through the night, it will make for quite a cold start across northern Scotland with a touch of frost here.

“Meanwhile for the south of Scotland a band of wet weather is pushing north and as it hits the colder air over the hills and mountains there will be some snow.

“Some wet weather too for Northern Ireland but the bulk of England and Wales have a dry and bright but cool start to Tuesday.

“There will be some sunshine around south Wales and southwest England but there will also be some showers scattered around.

“This area of wet weather across southern Scotland will be mostly rain but hitting the hills and mountains there will be some snow falling and that could continue for much of the afternoon."